Travel Insurance for Your Travel Personality and Needs

By Jane Pinzhoffer

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Not every vacation is the same and neither is every travel insurance plan. Each traveller and journey is unique—there’s no one-size fits all. With so many different types of travel insurance to choose from, it can get confusing to know which one is the best option. You definitely want to make sure you get the coverage you need so that there are no unwanted surprises if you need to make a claim.

When people talk about travel insurance they’re usually referring to one of two main types. The first is simply called a Package Plan, Vacation Insurance, or sometimes Comprehensive Travel Insurance. It covers trip-related expenses that occur when your plans change and is by far the most popular type of travel insurance. Things like cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, evacuations, lost or stolen luggage, delayed trips or luggage, and 24/7 assistance are covered. A Package Plan is well-suited for most family vacations and general travel.

The second most common type of insurance is called Travel Medical Insurance or Travel Health Insurance. It provides medical coverage when you’re travelling abroad and includes medical emergencies, accidents, emergency evacuations, and in some cases medical coverage for pre-existing conditions and life insurance. If you’re not worried about cancellation, interruption, delays, and baggage, and want your coverage to focus on medical coverage, this may be the best option for you. People who are living in a foreign country, are on a work term, or studying abroad, will often chose Travel Medical insurance.

However, there are other travel insurance plans you may not know about that might suit your needs. These plans are more specialized for people with specific requirements.

Travel Accident Insurance offers life insurance style coverage for travelers. This includes international accident protection and pays benefits if you have a serious injury that results in accidental death or dismemberment.

Annual Insurance plans work well for those who take multiple trips throughout the year. You’ll be covered no matter how many trips you take, regardless of the destination or the duration. This type of plan is convenient. Since there’s no need to give any notice before you leave, it allows you to be spontaneous. You can just pack your bags and go any time you want. Annual Insurance plans work well for frequent travellers and business travellers. For anyone who takes three or more trips a year, this type of plan is almost always less expensive than doing it on a trip-by-trip basis.

Evacuation Insurance focuses on emergency medical evacuations and international security evacuations. In the case of a medical emergency you’d be taken to the nearest hospital or medical facility, or in some cases transported home. These plans are most suited to those travelling to a remote location in a foreign country or those particularly concerned with emergency medical evacuation costs.

If you’re going to be driving while on vacation, you will probably want to get Car and Rental Car Travel Insurance. These plans typically cover repair costs due to traffic accidents and collisions for both traveler-owned vehicles and rental vehicles. Towing, roadside assistance benefits, and loss-of-use charges are usually included as well.

If you’re someone who enjoys extreme, contact, or adventure sports, and plans on participating in these activates while on vacation, there’s a good chance you’ll need to get additional insurance. In many cases your policy won’t cover you if you have an accident while participating in events which involve a high risk of injury. Extreme Sports Insurance will cover activities like rock climbing, scuba diving, sky diving, hang-gliding, bungee jumping, and backcountry skiing. Although you’ll be paying a slightly higher premium, you’ll be protected against the exorbitant cost of medical care in a foreign country should you get hurt while enjoying your favorite extreme sports.

No matter what type of trip you’re taking, Kanetix can help you get the travel insurance that’s best suited to you and your needs. They’ve made saving on travel insurance quicker and easier than ever before. Kanetix finds the lowest rates by comparing prices from trusted insurance providers. All you have to do is choose the best option. It takes only minutes and a single search can save you up to 64% on your travel insurance.

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